Council OKs bond for new school’s design work

SANFORD — City councilors approved a motion Tuesday night to start the process to secure interim funding needed to begin the design process for a new high school.

Sanford’s application for a new high school/regional technical school placed second on the state’s most recent priority list for major school renovation or construction projects. And recently, the Sanford School Department was given the green light by the State Department of Education to move forward on the site assessment and design of a new high school.

Although the state will fund all approved costs for the new school project, the community will need to secure a bond to cover the initial design expenses of the project, which includes assessment of the existing site (the current site of the high school/technical school), assessment of alternative sites and a Phase 1 concept draft for the project.

The work is expected to cost $135,000 or more, according to estimates presented at the Feb. 5 council meeting.

The design will be developed with input from many community, staff and student members, and will be presented to the whole community for “concept approval.” Upon a successful vote from the community, the State of Maine will reimburse Sanford for its initial expenses. The state will be funding 100% of the approved costs of construction.

The school department does not have operating funds in its budget to cover these initial costs and has requested interim financing for the design work.

City Manager Steven Buck outlined the procedure required and the need for interim financing at Tuesday’s meeting, and proposed that the council authorize him to initiate the process for an interim finance bond for up to $250,000.

The council approved the motion unanimously.

The school department must include the debt service in its 2013-14 fiscal year budget. Once local voters approve the concept design for the new school — by a referendum vote in June 2014 — Sanford will be reimbursed for the costs.